What to Expect During Oral Biopsy Recovery

Posted on 6/20/2019 by Dr McMurray

If you've had an oral biopsy to remove a small sample of tissue to test, you'll have to spend a little bit of time recovering. While it's not quite the same as recovering from full oral surgery, having a biopsy done isn't something you recover from in an afternoon. Here's what you can expect from having a biopsy done.

Some Bleeding

You can expect to see a little bit of bleeding from the area where the biopsy was done. We will put a small amount of gauze over the area after the sample is removed. If you take this gauze off later and it's still bleeding, you can reapply gauze as necessary. You shouldn't experience bleeding for more than a day or two at most. If you continue to bleed, give us a call.

Pain

You may experience some pain around the area, especially while eating or drinking. In some cases, we may give you stronger pain medication, but in other cases, some over-the-counter medication may be enough. You can suck on ice chips to help reduce the pain and swelling, too. This will also help keep you hydrated. You may want to drink through a straw so you can direct the liquid away from the surgical site, too.

Use an Ice Pack

There's a chance you may have some swelling around the area where the tissue sample was taken. You can use an ice pack on the outside of your face to help keep the swelling down. If you still have swelling or any stiffness in your jaw 48 hours after the procedure, you can apply heat for about 20 minutes per hour. Keep your head elevated to help reduce swelling, too.

Of course, we will go over everything you can expect after your biopsy before the procedure is done. If you have questions about what a biopsy entails, don't hesitate to call us. We're happy to provide answers to all of your questions.

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